2025 MBA Rankings - Top Business Schools
The 2025 MBA rankings showcase the world's top business schools across multiple prestigious ranking systems. Each ranking methodology emphasizes different factors, providing diverse perspectives on program quality and value.
US News 2025 MBA Rankings (Top 20)
| Rank | Business School | Change from 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wharton (University of Pennsylvania) | ↑ (from tied #1) |
| 2 (tie) | Stanford GSB | ↓1 |
| 2 (tie) | Kellogg (Northwestern) | ↑1 |
| 4 | Chicago Booth | — |
| 5 | MIT Sloan | — |
| 6 (tie) | Harvard Business School | ↓1 |
| 6 (tie) | Dartmouth Tuck | ↑ |
| 6 (tie) | NYU Stern | ↑ |
| 9 | Columbia Business School | ↓ |
| 10 | Yale SOM | — |
Notable US News 2025 Changes:
- Ohio State Fisher saw the largest gain, rising 7 spots to #24
- USC Marshall dropped 6 places to #24
- UNC Kenan-Flagler fell 8 spots to #28
Financial Times 2025 Global MBA Rankings (Top 15)
| Rank | Business School | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wharton | USA |
| 2 | Columbia Business School | USA |
| 3 | IESE Business School | Spain |
| 4 | INSEAD | France |
| 5 | SDA Bocconi | Italy |
| 8 | ESADE | Spain |
| 10 | Northwestern Kellogg | USA |
| 12 | CEIBS | China |
| 13 | Harvard Business School | USA |
| 15 (tie) | UC Berkeley Haas | USA |
Key FT 2025 Changes:
- Stanford GSB absent due to insufficient alumni response data
- Harvard dropped to #13, its lowest position ever
- European schools dominate top positions
- Only 13 US schools in top 100 (down from 19 in 2020)
QS Global MBA Rankings 2025 (Top 20)
| Rank | Business School | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanford GSB | USA |
| 2 | Penn (Wharton) | USA |
| 3 | Harvard Business School | USA |
| 4 | London Business School | UK |
| 5 | HEC Paris | France |
| 6 | Cambridge (Judge) | UK |
| 7 | MIT Sloan | USA |
| 8 | Chicago Booth | USA |
| 9 | Columbia Business School | USA |
| 10 | Northwestern Kellogg | USA |
| 11 | INSEAD | France |
| 12 | Yale SOM | USA |
| 13 | NYU Stern | USA |
| 14 | Duke Fuqua | USA |
| 15 | UC Berkeley Haas | USA |
Poets&Quants 2024-2025 Composite MBA Rankings
Poets&Quants combines multiple rankings (US News 35%, Financial Times 30%, Businessweek 15%, LinkedIn 10%, Princeton Review 10%) for a comprehensive view:
| Rank | Business School | Notable Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwestern Kellogg | First time at #1 |
| 2 | Stanford GSB | Previous #1 |
Bloomberg Businessweek 2024-2025 MBA Rankings
| Rank | Business School | Notable |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanford GSB | 6th consecutive year at #1 |
| 6 | Harvard Business School | Dropped to #6 |
| 17 | Columbia Business School | 12-place fall |
M7 Business Schools Performance Across Rankings
The M7 elite business schools maintain their dominance across all major rankings:
| School | US News | FT Global | QS Global |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stanford GSB | 2 | N/A* | 1 |
| Wharton | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Harvard | 6 | 13 | 3 |
| Chicago Booth | 4 | >10 | 8 |
| Northwestern Kellogg | 2 | 10 | 10 |
| MIT Sloan | 5 | >10 | 7 |
| Columbia | 9 | 2 | 9 |
*Stanford absent from FT 2025 due to insufficient alumni data
Key Takeaways from 2025 MBA Rankings
Winners:
- Wharton: #1 in both US News and FT
- Kellogg: #1 in Poets&Quants composite
- European Schools: Strong showing in FT rankings
- Asian Schools: Rising in global rankings
Surprises:
- Harvard: Historic low at #13 in FT
- Columbia: #17 in Businessweek
- Stanford: Missing from FT rankings
- US Schools: Declining presence in FT top 100
Understanding Ranking Methodologies
US News & World Report
Focuses on peer assessment, recruiter assessment, employment outcomes, student selectivity, and faculty resources. Most influential for US programs.
Financial Times
Emphasizes salary progression, career advancement, international diversity, and research. Global perspective with strong European representation.
QS Global MBA Rankings
Evaluates employability, entrepreneurship, alumni outcomes, return on investment, and thought leadership. Strong emphasis on global reach.
Bloomberg Businessweek
Based on surveys of students, alumni, and recruiters. Focuses on compensation, learning, networking, and entrepreneurship.
Poets&Quants
Composite ranking combining US News (35%), FT (30%), Businessweek (15%), LinkedIn (10%), and Princeton Review (10%).
How to Use These Rankings
Best Practices:
- Consider Multiple Rankings: No single ranking tells the complete story
- Focus on Your Priorities: Different rankings emphasize different factors
- Look at Trends: Year-over-year movements can indicate program trajectory
- Research Methodology: Understand what each ranking actually measures
- Consider Geography: US News for US careers, FT for international opportunities
- Beyond Rankings: Visit campuses, talk to alumni, consider culture fit
Need Help Navigating MBA Rankings?
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